Clothes-line holder.



R. J. CANTRELL.

CLOTHES LINE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.16,1909.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

\W m V F r ROY J. CANTRELL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CLOTHES-LIN E HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

Application filed March 16, 1909. Serial No. 483,713.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROY J. OANTRELL, citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Line Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a clothes-line and holder or case for the same. 7

Its object is to provide a simple, cheap, practical, neat-appearing, adjustable clothesline holder for use in the kitchen or other room in a house, or for use in a yard where space is limited and it is not always convenient or desirable to have a stationary clothes-line hung at all times.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front view showing the cover removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section. Fig. 3 is a section on line XX, Fig. 1. Fig. 4k is a perspective view of the clamp member.

In the embodiment of the invention as actually practiced, and suitable for two lines each fifteen to twenty feet in length, I employ a casing, as A, having a removable cover 2, which houses the lines 3 and weights 1, and which casing is approximately five feet in length, one inch in thickness, and an inch and a half in width, and adapted to be installed as a permanent part of a room, or to be secured permanently to any suitable support by any appropriate means. Manifestly, though, these dimensions may vary,

according to the size, length and number of lines used. Also, while in practice I make the casing out of a molding strip of special design, it is manifest that it may be made of any suitable material and appropriate shape.

Preferably, for a two-line holder the easing is made with two lengthwise extending grooves 5 separated by a lengthwise extending slot 6 in the casing. ,A. weight 4 slides in each groove or slide-way 5, and each line 3 is suitably rove around a respective pulley 7 on a weight and a fixed double sheave 8 at the top of the casing; the free end of each cord preferably having a ring 9 by which the cord may be grasped and pulled forth from the casing and engaged with a hook 10 or other suitable support across the room when it is desired to use the line. The slot 6 is important because it provides a means of adjustment for the stops 11, by which the limit of upward movement of each weight is determined, and by which the adjustment of each line for any particular room or space is effected, as will be described shortly. Each of these stops 11 comprises a strip of sheet-metal bent up at one end to form a flange 12, and adapted to bridge the slot, and with a downwardly turned guide flange 13 projecting into one of the grooves 5; a set-screw and thumbnut 14 serving to lock the stop at any suitable place. The screw has a head 15 which fits an enlarged countersunk groove 16 in the back of the casing, so as to permit the stop to be adjusted up and down after the casing,

has been secured with its back against the wall in permanent position, by suitable means, as the screws 17. WVith two lines and weights to a casing, as here shown, one of the stops 11 projects to one side of the slot 6, and the other to the other side, so that neither stop will interfere with the proper working of the other line, but will allow independent adjustment of either line.

The cover 2 is preferably made detachable, and may be secured in any suitable fashion to the casing. As here shown, the cover is a little shorter than the casing, and the latter has two cap-shaped members 1S19 respectively at top and bottom of the casing forming a seat for the beveled ends of the cover. The space between the opposed front flanges of the caps 1918 is a little less than the length of the cover 2, so that the latter, which consists of a flexible woo-den,

strip, can be easily put in place by simply inserting one end of the strip in the lower cap, and then bending the strip so that the other end can pass up into the top cap; the strip straightening as soon as allowed to, and closing the casing; the function of the cover being to form a front guide for the weights, and preventing their being dis placed from their regular slide-ways 5. If desired,-suitable locking means 20 are employed to hold the cover in place. Also, the top edge of the cover is provided with a notch 21 for each line, out through which notches the lines are passed; the lines being prevented from falling back into the casing when the weights strike their lowest point, by the engagement of the rings 9 with the cover.

In practice, the frame or holder is screwed to the wall, or-casingof a door, or other suitable support, by means of the screws 17 this being done before the cover is put on. The lines or cords 8 being suitably connected to the weights and rove around the pulleys 78, are received into the notches 21, and the cover put in position, after regulating the stop 11 according to the length of line required. By taking hold of the ring attached to the exposed end of the cord, the cord is drawn forth from the casing, thereby raising the, weight, and a suitable length of cord is'drawn forth, according to the space available in which the line is temporarily to be suspended. The ring is then' hooked over a nail or hook, as 10. Since, however, each weight only weighs a few ounces, and it is only designed to act automatically to retract the cord into the casing when released from its connection 10, it is manifest that some means must be provided to limit the further upward movement of the weight when a particular line has been adjusted to the particular space available. Consequently,

the reasons become apparent for the adjustable stops 11; and each stop is adjusted so as to intercept its respective Weight when the. proper length of line has been drawn forth sufficient to engage its hook 10 and maintain the line taut. By means of the stop 11 the weight is revented from rising, so that clothes may be ung on the line without the latter sagging. When once set by means of the adjustable devices 11 the line is always ready for use, so that only the desired amount of line sufficient to engage its hook l0 and maintain the line tight and secure under all conditions, can be drawn out of'the casing. If a longer line is needed, or a new point of attachment 10 for the line is found, or the device is to be set up in a another room or location, requiring a different length. of" line, then the stop 11 is adjusted accordingly. With the line vacant, the line is automatically rewound within the casing by means of the weight, on detaching the ring from the hook on the wall.

It is manifest that the number of lines and weightshoused within a single casing may be varied at will, but in any case a slngle 5 nesses.v

slot 6 in the casing will provide means for the att -unen Of tWO tops Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.

1. The combination in a. clothes-line holder, of a vertical casing, a weight housed and slidable in the casing, a pulley in the 'top of the casing and a pulley on the weight,

secured in said slot, weights sliding in the grooves and interceptable by said stops, pulj leys arranged at the top of the casing, and lines connected to respective of said weights I and passing around respective of said pulleys, said lines operative to be withdrawn from the casing, and rewound'therein, by means of the weights.

3. The combination in a clothes-line holder, of-a casing having a plurality of ver tical guide grooves, the casing having a slot between the grooves, adjustable stops secured in said slot, weights sliding in the grooves and interceptable by said stops, pulleys arranged at the top of" the casing, lines connected to respective of-said weights 1 and passing around respective of said pulileys, said llnes operative to be withdrawn from the caslng, and rewound thereln, by

means of the weights, and a cover for said casing, said casing having opposed topand bottom caps spaced apart .a distance less than the length of the coverfand said cover of springy material and adapted to be sprung within said caps and held therein. 7 r r In testimony whereof I have hereunto se my hand in presence of two subscribing. wit- ROY J. OANTRELL.

Witnesses GEO. J; VINCENT,

W. H. KILINE. 

